Don't own them, not a medical expert, and THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS....

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Bones had left after our lunch, and I caught a quick nap in my chair before my second round of therapy knowing that rebecca would be bringing Parker today. Our first try at having him alone with me went well, and even though it scared the hell out of me to have him alone, I needed time with him. I knew Bones would be coming in towards the end of the evening because she was leaving in the morning with Mack and wouldn't see me for two weeks. The nurse came in to get me when I was late for my therapy, I'd overslept.

"Seeley, wake up." She said loudly.

"Oh, sorry. My son is coming in tonight, and I thought I'd catch a quick one so I wouldn't fall asleep on him later." I said blinking the sleep from my eyes.

"You aren't that late. Just head on down. Anne figured she wore you out earlier." the nurse said smiling.

"Thanks." I said before placing my mouth over the straw to leave my room.

Another two and a half hours of therapy later, I was sweaty and I smelled bad. Anne had noticed some resistance in my left arm exclaiming that soon was here.

"Seeley, it won't be long before your getting in and out of this chair by yourself." She said happily.

"Any minute I'm stuck like this is too long Anne. I can't wait. Even if I never walk again, if I could at least move my arms I could survive that." I told her truthfully.

"I don't think that you need to worry about not walking Seeley. It's just a matter of when." She answered squeezing my left hand.

When I got back to my room I called for a nurse, I had to get cleaned up, and Parker would be here in less than an hour.

"What's up Seel." John said entering my room.

"I reek is what's up. Do you think we could get me in the shower before my son gets here. I need a shave too." I said looking at my scruffy face in the mirror.

"We can do that. I'll have Jenna come in and shave you when we're done with the shower." He said moving behind me in the bathroom.

This was a process I hated. First I was undressed, then whoever was working with me would place a sling under my ass and I was hoisted up and into the shower. I closed my eyes while they washed me, it was too embarrassing to watch someone else do it, not to mention degrading. When they were finished which normally was about fifteen minutes later they would dry me off, then hoist me back into my chair, re-dress me and then I was good to go.

"What do you want to wear man?" John asked going through my clothes as I sat in just boxers.

"Uh, how about the blue t-shirt and maybe jeans?" I asked, I was sick of sweatpants, but not sure that any of the jeans would fit me.

"How about these?" He said pulling out a pair that I didn't recognize.

"Are those mine?" I asked craning my neck to see.

He checked them over assuming that they were and as he walked into the bathroom with them something fell from the pocket.

"What's that?" I asked nodding to the floor.

He picked up the folded piece of paper and held it out in front of me.

Booth,

I figured you'd eventually get sick of sweats. Guessed on the size so hopefully they'll fit.

Jack

I read it and wasn't really surprised. Jack had been good at knowing what I needed sometimes without me even knowing it. I laughed to myself. At least the squints had been good for something, I thought.

John pulled my legs in and surprisingly the jeans fit good, not too tight, but not loose like my old ones would have been. As he leaned me forward pulling my shirt down over me I felt the pain again. My body's way of telling me that it was there. My breath hitched for a minute when it travelled up my back into my neck.

"You alright man?" John asked looking concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine. Been feeling some pain in my back today. The doc said it's the nerves getting confused, it's a good pain." I said smiling as I caught my breath.

"You look good man." John said standing back, to look me over.

"There should be some gel in that bag there. Could you?" I said, wanting to look like myself for a change. "A little spiky on top."

He finished gelling my hair and I rode out into my room. I felt like myself for once, and glancing at the photo of Parker and I, I realized that I'd been in there all along. I was just too afraid to let anyone see me like this. John had left, and I waited for Jenna.

"Seeley, this is a nice look." She said winking, seeing me in something other than sweats for the first time.

"This is me. That guy in the sweats was me, hiding out." I joked as she placed the towel over me.

I'd leaned my chair back, so that I was almost horizontal with the floor for her to proceed. I had six days of facial hair that needed removed and I couldn't wait for it to be gone. As she slowly and carefully shaved my face trying not to nick me I thought about missing Bones for two whole weeks. But at least I could try to look good for her tonight, so she could see that I was back. Jenna wasn't quite finished when Parker came bounding into the room.

"Daddy!" he said as always.

"Hey little man, how was school." I said as he climbed onto the bed to watch.

"It was boring. I don't have any homework tonight, so we don't have to do that!" he said excited.

"Good, just me and you kiddo. Bones is coming later. But until then, we can be guys." I said as Jenna wiped my face.

"Can I get a shave too Jenna?" Parker asked, looking from her to me.

"Sure little guy. Sit right there." She said sqirting out some shaving cream for his face too.

"It smells good dad." He said as she rubbed it on his little face.

"Stay real still Park, you don't want to get a cut." I instructed him, turning my chair to watch.

She didn't open the blade, just used the handle and halfway through I saw a camera flash as his smile widened.

"Hey Angie." he said as I turned to see Jack, Angela and Bones in the doorway.

"What are you all doing here?" I asked surprised.

"Thought we'd leave that up to Parker and you." Jack said winking to Parker.

"Okay, what's going on." I said not sure I liked being surprised.

"Daddy, we're going out." Parker said happily.

"He's right Booth. Anywhere you want to go." Angela said with a smile.

"How did you pull that off Bones." I asked her.

"You aren't the only one with connections Booth." She said smiling as she moved to wipe a stray bit of shaving cream off my face, Angela snapped a picture right as her finger touched my face. "You look good."

"Ange, is that really necessary?" I asked.

"Yes." was all she said.

"Thanks, Jenna." Parker said as she wiped his face too.

"Thanks." I said to her as she gathered her stuff to go.

"Just be back before ten, Seel." She said giving me a smile and a wink.

Bones and Angela had sat in the chairs in my room and Hodgins was leaning against the bed next to Parker.

"Well little man, where do you want to go?" I asked him.

"Can we go to the science center?" He said shocking me.

"Sure thing. Bones?" I said making sure that was a viable option.

"Sounds like fun to me Parker. Let's go." She said, completely out of character for her.

Hodgins and Angela were waiting with Parker in the hall as Bones got me a jacket from the closet.

"Bones. How did you pull this off?" I asked her.

"A better question would be did you know? I mean your not in sweats, there's gel in your hair..." She said drinking me in with her eyes.

"I had no idea, really." I said my eyes meeting hers.

"Good. I wanted it to be a surprise. You need out of here Booth. What better a day than this. Especially with Parker." She said her hand finding my left one.

"Thanks, Bones." I said feeling like I could cry at her thoughtfulness.

"Let's go Booth." She said pointing to her watch.

She had managed to get the rehab facility's van for the night, and as we all piled in, I felt a sense of trepidation. I hadn't been out in so long, I hadn't been around other people, and I could feel the nervousness creeping in.

I was quiet most of the ride, until Parker asked me, "Daddy, are you okay?"

"Yeah little man, I'm more than okay." I answered, wishing I could rustle his hair.

"Good. We've been waiting." he said, shocking me.

I didn't realize how much he'd really been missing out on until that statement came from his mouth. My heart ached for all the times he'd seen me at my worst, yelling at his mother, yelling at Bones. Just being an idiot around him, or letting myself get out of control in front of him. I'd wasted all that time, four months of not cherishing every moment I was still able to have with him, or any of them for that matter. As I listened to Jack making him laugh, and Bones and Angela talking I told myself that I wouldn't let it happen twice.